The Human Life

by George O'Neil, Gisela O'Neil

Finding one's course through life, navigating between the "given, " or what life brings to one, and the "achieved, " what one can accomplish out of one's self, has become increasingly difficult. The Human Life unfolds a picture of the archetypes of human life patterns including: the seven-year periods, descent and ascent of the human spirit, human life as a reflection of historic development and evolution of consciousness, planetary influences, destiny and freedom, karmic companions, polarities in human life, the three levels of life -- body, soul, and spirit, and more.This book, the fruit of a life-work in anthroposophy by two leading figures in the development of anthroposophy in America, is an invaluable resource for understanding human life and development.

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Donat Szotak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some context for our journeys, including our relationship to time, resurrecting some Western traditions of the past in the context of the Anthroposophical Society that Steiner traced back to Valentinianism as a lineage.

At 21, “search for meaning in life” characterises my life period and aids in the biographies studied; specific patterns seem to emerge, which compelled me to read this book.

I heard and can see that men tend to have really milestone years with their idols and influences “to measure themselves up” in their destinies, and perhaps less so with women?

In the 1970s, Leonard Cohen released the album “Recent Songs,” and in a song called “Came So Far For Beauty,” he sings, “My masterpiece unsigned.” He was 45 when this was released, and in the “Spirit-Self period,” where “initiative and spirit vigour guide feelings,” this period starts at 42 (ending the “soul” period from age 21-28, sentient to 28-35, rational feeling to spiritual 35-42)

Another interesting and plausible claim is that one can embody different life periods mirrored in the 9 - 7 year intervals in a life from 0 to 63; otherwise, inference is used, since the capacity is not there yet [page 230 of the diagram of the mirror relationships].

I borrowed this book from the Internet Archive.

[Anthony Zappia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our lives are tapestries and yet as George O'Neil, Gisela O'Neil and Florin Lowndes show each human life is based on an archetypal pattern. How this pattern is expressed ultimately depends on us. Using a life chart, one can learn to understand the stages and forces that help shape this archetype, and so live a life of meaning. Understanding and making sense of where we've been and what we've experienced goes a long way to preparing us for the road ahead. This book is a great introduction to the practice of human biography and draws on the work of Rudolf Steiner as well as their own spiritual research. A colour chart is provided with the book that one can fill in and begin to understand their own biography; where we've been, where we are and where we are going.